Lerner to press: Call me later

CLEVELAND -- Alfred Lerner has a reputation for maintaining a low profile, and yesterday he let a member of the Baltimore media know he plans to keep it that way.

Lerner, a part-owner of the Cleveland Browns, has been endorsed by Gov. William Donald Schaefer to become owner of Baltimore's NFL team if the city is awarded a franchise by league owners on Nov. 30.

Lerner has not returned phone calls to The Sun, and seemed caught off guard yesterday when a Sun reporter knocked on the door of his owners suite about 45 minutes before the Browns played the Houston Oilers at Cleveland Stadium.

Lerner was cordial and shook hands, but immediately started closing the door slowly once the reporter identified himself as being from Baltimore.

"This is not the time, but there will be a time," Lerner said, still closing the door.

"When? How about later or tomorrow or whenever?" the reporter said, trying to get a foot in the door.